Apparatus and method for synchronizing robots

Abstract

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for synchronization robots. According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable robot synchronization apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data defining physical models and behaviors of a real robot, a manipulation unit, an output unit, a communication unit configured to perform wired and wireless communication with the real robot or a server, and a control unit configured to model a size and behavior of a virtual robot, having a shape and behavior of the real robot, in response to a manipulation command received through the manipulation unit, on the basis of the data stored in the storage unit, output the modeled virtual robot through the output unit, and control the behavior of the virtual robot in response to the behavior of the real robot when communicating with the real robot through the communication unit.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE[0001]This application claims foreign priority under Paris Convention and 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0123954 filed on Dec. 14, 2009 with the Korean Intellectual Property Office.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]An aspect of the present invention relates to a robot and, more particularly, to a robot synchronization technique.[0004]2. Background of the Related Art[0005]The robot industry is developed daily, and it is expected that the robot industry will become one of the important industries which determine national competitiveness in the near future. Accordingly, there is an increasing interest in household robots for the popularization of the robot industry and robot technology and robots for education and toys. A number of robot companies are greatly contributing to robot industrialization on the basis of not only robots for industry, but also robots for homes, education, and toys. It is expected that invest...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0055]As described above, according to some embodiments, a virtual robot operated in conjunction with the behavior of a real robot may be outputted in real time. Accordingly, a user may be provided with the feeling of movement as if he operates a real robot through the virtual robot. Accordingly, a user's interesting and fun can be increased. Furthermore, the general public can easily control a robot through manipulation using the virtual robot even without a complicated controller.

[0006]Meanwhile, there are suggested techniques for simulating robots. For example, there are disclosed tools for fabricating a virtual robot in software and comparing a behavior of the virtual robot and a behavior of a real robot through simulation.

[0013]Meanwhile, a robot synchronization method according to an aspect of the present invention includes the steps of storing data defining the physical models and behaviors of a real robot, receiving a manipulation command to control a virtual robot, modeling a behavior of the virtual robot on the basis of the stored data in response to the received manipulation command, and outputting the modeled virtual robot.

[0058]Furthermore, a real robot may be tested through simulations of a virtual robot. Accordingly, there is less possibility that the elements of a real robot may be changed because of abnormality in the state in which the real robot has been completed. In addition, the present invention is efficient in terms of time and cost because any problem existing in the behavior or structure of a real robot can be accurately checked before the real robot is completed.

Problems solved by technology

This makes it difficult for the general public to wirelessly control a number of robots using an additional complicated controller.

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